Outlet-valve mechanism for tank-cars



' G. F. WOOD-SMITH.

OUTLET VALVE MECHANISM FOR TANK CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I4. 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET l- 1,339,083. Patented M y 4, 1920.

' III d INVENTOR ATTORIVE rs G. F. WOOD-SMITH. OUTLET VALVE MECHANISMFOR TANK CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT; 14, 1917- I Patented May 4, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVE TOR ATTOR N EYS G. F. WOOD-SMITH.

OUTLET VALVE MECHANISM FOR T'ANK CARS. 7

APPLICATION HLED SEPI. 14. 1917.

1,339,083, V Patented May 4,1920.

////////////////// 3 S H E E T SS H E E T 3Q1!!!(III/[IIIIIIIIIIIl/Il/IIIIIl/I/IIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIII/lI/IIIIIIIIIIIWWW IIWI M II ATTORNEYS GEORGE E. WOOD-SMITH, OF ST. LOUIS,

MENTS, T STANDARD TANK CAB COMPANY, OF ST.

4 PORATION or DELAWARE.

MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- LOUIS, MISSOURI, A GOR-O'UTLET-VALVE MECHANISM FOR TANK-(EARS.

To all whom it may concern:

of the tank to escape.

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. W001)- Siurrrr, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at St. Louis, State of,;Missour1 have invented a newand useful Outlet- Valve Mechanism for Tank-(Jars, of which thefollowing is a specification.

In tank cars as now constructed, the car is weaker in its center thanany other place, on account of the large opening in the top of the tankwhich allows entranceto the dome. The result of this is that whenthetank car is traveling around a sharp curve the tank assumes an ovalcontour, and the outlet valve opens, permitting the :contents 1 Thisopeningof, the

valve also OCCUISWhllG the tank carsin transit due to the -vibration setupby the movement of the car. v

The outlet valves in devices of this" char acter can be easily tamperedwith,,as now constructed since the'cap on thebutlet' leg can beunscrewed and without opening the dome cover on the top of the tank,- a-bar can be pushed through the outlet'leg and the .valve lifted off ofits seat, and a portion of the contents of the tank :thus removed.Furthermore, the dome cover can 4 be unscrewed and an' inexperienced mancan open the valve, thus permitting the contents of the tank to escape.

With the above in view, my present invention consists of a novelconstruction and arrangement of an outlet valve mechanism for tank carswhereby the valve can be positively locked in position and renderedfoolproof.

A further object of my invention is to devise a novel valve mechanismwhich controls the flow of theliquid and which while preferably locatedin the outlet leg may be located in any other desired place and stillaccomplish the same function.

A further object of my invention is to devise a valve mechanism, whereinthe valve will remain closed if the outlet leg becomes broken.

A further object is to utilize the same operating rod to unlock thevalve as is used to lift the valve.

Further objects oi: my invention are to devise a novel construction ofan outletleg, a novel construction 'of valve mechanism, novel means foractuating the valve to effect Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1920.

Application iiled September 14, 1917. Serial No. 191,426.

its opening and closing, and novel means for locking the valve rod tothe dome in order to prevent any unauthorized person from tampering withthe valve mechanism. Other novel features of construction and advantagewill hereinafter appear in the detailed description of my invention.

In the drawings, I have illustrated typical embodiments of the inventionWlllCh in I practice will give satisfactory and reliable results,although it is to be understood that these embodiments are typical onlyand that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists.can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is notlimited to the precise arrangement and orgamzation of theseinstrumentalities as herein shown and described.

' Figure 1 represents,in side elevation, and

partly broken away, a tank car, in conjunction with which a novel outletvalve mechanism embodying .myinvention may be em ployed.

Fig 2 represents in sectional elevation the tank and valve mechanism,the valve being shown in its closed position and locked. a

Fig 3 represents in sectional elevation the tank and valve mechanism,the valve being shown in its open position. v

Fig. 4: represents, in sectional elevation and on an enlarged scale, aportion of the tank and valve mechanism.

Fig. 5 represents a top plan view of the outlet leg.

Fig. 6 represents, in sectional elevation and on an enlarged scale, aportion of the valve mechanism and its adjuncts.

Fig. 7 represents, in side elevation, an

other embodiment of my invention.

flow of the commo ity passing through the vent rotation of a nut 12.This means is illustrated as 'consisting of a hollow nut 13 .having apolygonal shaped opening 14 through it which corresponds in contourtothe polygonal shape of the nut 12.

In the form illustrated, the opening 14 has a rectangular contour withtapering side walls which converge upwardly. The upper end of the outletleg 8 is provided with 'an inclined wall 15 which forms a valve seat fora valve 16 which is provided with the upwardl extending ears 17 which,have preferab y an angular contour and are spaced from each other inorder to receive the square end 18 of a valve rod 19. The valve rod 19'is secured to the ears 17 by means of a fastening device 20 which in theform illustrated consists of a cotter pin.

V The lower end of the valve rod l9terminates in a head 21 adaptedtocontact with the. ears 17 to raise the valve. By such construction,the valve-rod 19 and'the valve 16 rotate in unison and when'the valve isunlocked and the valve rod moves upwardly, the valve is free to movewith it. 7' The valve rod 19 passes through an aperture 22 in the tank 2and extends into the dome 3.

23 designates a bracket secured -to the dome 3 in any desired manner andhaving an aperture 24 through which the valve rod 19 passes; 25designates a collar secured to the valve rod 19 by meansof a tapered pin26 and between this collar 25 and the bracket 23 is interposed a spring27. 28 designates a collar located above the bracket 23 and secured tothe valve rod 19 by means of a tapered pin 29. Interposed between thecollar 28'and the bracket 23 is a cam 30 provided with an operatinghandle 31 and with thecam face 32 which is adapted to ride on thebracket 23 to effect the upward movement of the valve rod 19 when thevalve is unlocked. The upper end of the valve rod 19 terminates inproximity to the manhole 5 and is provided with a hand wheel orequivalent device 33 which is secured to such valve rod in any desiredmanner, such as for example by a nut 34 in threaded engagement with'thevalve rod 19.

The outlet leg 8 extends a considerable dlstance below the center sillof the underframe of the tank car and is provided with a peripheralgroove 35 so that in case the outlet leg shouldicome-into contact withan obstruction, it will break off at such groove, leaving the valvesecurely locked in closed pos1tion.- The lower end of the outlet legvalve rod 19, as shown in is provided in the usual manner with a cap 36in threaded engagement therewith and connected to the underframe of thetank car by means of a chain 37. The set collars 25 and 28 arepreferably adgustable on the ig. 7. In this figure, instead of employingthe pins which pass through the collars and engage the valve rod, thecollar 25 is provided witha set screw 38 and the. collar 28 is providedwith a set screw 39 and since the other parts corres 0nd to that seen inFig. 4, I have identi ed them by corresponding reference characters. Thevalve 16 is provided with a threaded stem 40 with which the nut 12 is inthreaded engagement.

41 desi nates a bracket which is preferably employed, said bracket beingcarried by the dome head 4 in any desired manner and being provided withan aperture 42, thereby enabling 'one to lock the valve rod by means ofa padlock 43, the hasp of which passes through the hand wheel 33 and theaperture 42. This prevents any unauthorized person from tampering withthe valve locking mechanism.

The operation of my novel outlet valve mechanism for tank cars will nowbe readily understood by those skilled in the art to which thisinvention appertains and is as follows:-

Assuming that the outlet valve mechanism is in its closed position, theoperator rotates the hand wheel 33 in the proper dimotion to cause thenut 12 to move downwardly on the rotation of the valve rod 19, it beingunderstood that the valve rod is connected to the valve in such a mannerthat they rotate in unison. The valve 16 is now unlocked. The operatorthen turns the handle 31 through a semi-circle to cause the cam 30 toride on the bracket 23, thus raising the valve 16 and allowing thecommodity to discharge through the outlet leg.

When the handle 31 is returned to its initial or normal position, thespring 27 causes the valve to close. The valve is then locked inposition by rotating the hand wheel 33, thus causing the nut 12 totravel up on the threaded stem 40 of the valve 16 and the valve ispositively locked in its closed position. The amount of opening of thevalve 16 will thus depend upon the extent to which the valve rod 19 hasbeen revolved.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the outlet or dischargevalve 16 is positively locked in position so that it cannot open whenthe tank car is travelling around a sharp .curve and my novel valvemechanism will allow the tank to assume an oval contour withoutpermitting the valve to open. c

It will further be apparent that the controlling means for the valvecannot be tampered with, as it is located within the dome andinaccessible when the car is in transit since the-cover of the dome issealed.

It will also be apparent that since the valve is positively locked inposition, the vibration occurring when the-car is in transit cannotunlock the valve or permitit to understood that these embodiments aresusceptible of modification in various particulars without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of itsadvantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character stated, the combination with a tank car,of an outlet leg, a valve controlling said outlet leg, and meansincluding a part concealed within the upper end of said outlet leg topositively lock said valve in, closed position, said means beingincapable'of being actuated through the discharge end of said outlet le1 2. In a device of the character stated, the combination with a tankcar, of an outlet leg, a valve controlling said outlet leg, and meansincluding a part concealed within the upper end of said outlet leg tolock said valve in closed position and to adjustably limit the extent ofits. opening, said means being incapable of being actuated through thedischarge end of said outlet leg.

In a device of the character stated, the

combination with the tank and dome, of an outlet leg for said tank, avalve controlling said outlet leg, a spring to seat said valve, means tolock said valve in closed position, said means including a member fixedto said outlet leg and concealed within its upper end by said valve, anddevices within said dome to actuate said locking means.

4. In a device of the character stated, the combination with the tankand dome, of an outlet leg for said tank, a valve controlling saidoutlet leg, a spring to seat said valve, means including a nonrotatablemember concealed within and connected to the upper portion of saidoutlet leg to lock-said valve in closed position, and devices withinsaid dome to actuate said locking means.

5. In a device of the character stated, the combination with the tankand dome, of an outlet leg for said tank, a valve controlling anda'movable member controlled said outlet leg, locking means for saidvalve including a nonrotatable part concealed within the upper end ofsaid leg and a second part prevented from rotation by said first partand capable of relative longitudinal movement with respect to saidvalve, a rod for said valve, means to actuate said rod to effect thelocking and unlocking of said valve, a spring to seat said valve, andmeans to move said rod to open said valve,

said means being concealed within said dome.

6. In a device of the character stated, the'combination with the tank,of an outlet leg for said tank having a diaphragm and a fixed nutprovided with a polygonallyshaped opening, a, movable polygonally shapednut to engage the walls ofsaid opening, a valve controlling said outletleg and having a stem in threaded engagement with said movable nut,means to open said valve,

and means to rotate said valve to cause said movable nut to approach ormove away from said fixed nut.

7. 'In a device of the character stated, the combination with the tank,of an outlet leg for said tank, a valve controlling said outlet leg, aspring to seat'said-valve, means to open said valve, means to rotatesaid valve, a stem for said valve, a nut on said stem, and meansconcealed within and connected to the'upper portion of said oulet legand cooperating with said nut during the rotation of said valve toeffect the locking or unlocking of said valve.

8. In a device of the character stated, the

combination with the tank, of an outlet leg for said tank, a valvecontrolling said outlet leg, a spring to seat said valve, means to opensaid valve, means to rotate said valve, a stem for said valve, and meansincluding a fixed part secured within the upper end of said outlet legand a movable part on said stem cooperating with said valve during itsrotation in one direction to lock said valve in closed position, andcooperating with said valve during its rotation in a reverse directiontounlock it.

9. In. a device of the character stated. the combination with the tank,of an outlet leg secured thereto. a valvecontrolling said outlet leg, astem for said valve, a nut in threaded engagement with said stem, meansfixed within the upper end of said outlet leg to prevent rotation ofsaid nut and per: mit its limited longitudinal movement toward saidvalve, a valve rod. a spring cooperating with said valve rod to seatsaid valve. means to actuate said valve rod to open said valve, andmeans to rotate said within the upper end of said outlet leg andincapable of being operated through the discharge end of it andcontrolled by said valve to lock it in closed position, and to permitits opening, a valve rod connected with said valve, a bracket carried bysaid dome, a set collar on said valve rod, a spring betweencealed withinthe upper end of said outlet leg and incapable of being operated throughthe discharge end of it and controlled by said valve to lock it inclosed position and to permit its opening, a valve. rod connected withsaid valve, a bracket carried by said dome, a set collar adjustable onsaid valve rod, a spring between said bracket and set collar, a secondset collar adjustable on said valve rod, a manually controlled cambetween said second set collar and bracket to raise said valve rod, andmeans connected with said valve rod torotate it.

12. In a device of the character stated, the combination with the tank,of an outlet leg secured to it and provided with a diaphragm and a fixednut having a rectangularly shaped opening, the walls of which convergeupwardly, a rectangularly shaped movable nut having tapering walls toengage the walls of said fixed nut, said leg having a valve seat, avalve to engage said seat and having a valve stem in threaded engagementwith said movable nut, a valve rod connected with said valve to rotatein unison with it and to lift it, a spring cooperating with said valverod to seat said valve, means to actuate said valve rod to unseat saidvalve, and independent means to rotate said valve.

13. The combination of a tank car having an outlet and provided with adome, of a valve controlling said outlet, means controlled by said valveto lock it in closed position, said means being concealed within the.upper end of said outlet leg and being incapable of being operatedthrough the discharge end of said outlet devices accessible only withinsaid dome to actuate said locking means, and locking mechanism for saiddevices.

14. The combination of a tank car having an outlet, of a valvecontrolling the flow of liquid through said outlet, a spring to seatsaid valve, a rod controlling the unlocking of said valve, and means tosecuresaid rod in locked position, said means including a longitudinalmovable part carried by said valve and a fixed part connected withinsaid outlet, said parts being concealed within the upper end of saidoutlet 7 15. The combination of a tank car having an outlet and providedwitha dome, of a valve'controlling the flow of liquid through saidoutlet, a rod connected with said valve,

7 means including a fixed and a movable part cooperating with said valveto cause it to open when said valve is rotated, said parts beingconcealed within the upper end of said outlet and said fixed partforming a part of said outlet, a spring to seat said valve, a bracketcarried by said dome, and a lock engaging said bracket and preventingrotation of said rod.

16. The combination with'a tank car, of an outlet leg, a valvecontrolling'said outlet leg, and means carried within the upper end ofsaid outlet leg to positively lock said valve in closed position, saidmeans'being incapable of being operated through the discharge end ofsaid outlet leg, said outlet leg having a weakened portion below saidlooking means, whereby the valve rema ns closed on the breakage of theoutlet leg at its weakened portion.

t 17. In a tank car, in combination, an out let leg having its dischargeend of reduced diameter, a valve controlling said outlet leg, and meansconcealed within the upper end of said outlet leg to effect the lockingand unlocking of said valve, said means having such relation to theinlet and outlet end of said leg that the velocity of flow of thecommodity passing through it when the valve is open is not decreased.

18. The combination with a tank car, of an outlet leg, a valvecontrolling said outlet leg and having a depending threaded stem, a nutmovable on said stem, and a nonrotatable nut within the upper end ofsaid outlet leg and carried by it and cooperating with said movable nutto prevent its rotation and to permit relative longitudinal movement ofi the fixed and movable nut.

19. The combination with a tank car and its dome, of an outlet leghaving within its upper end a fixed nut, a valve controlling said outletleg, a nut rotatably carried by said valve and prevented from -rotationby valve and extending into said dome, a bracket carried by said dome, aset collar on said rod below said bracket, a-spring between said bracketand said collar, a cam on v said fixed nut, a rodconnected with said ato raise said valve, a handle on said-rod to rotate said valve, andlocking mechanism for said handle.

-' GEORGE F. WOOD- SMITH.

Witnesses:

M. D. KRENKEL, J. H. MCCARTNEY.

